Saturday, February 23, 2008

Cupcakes, Juliet, and a Podcast that doesn't suck

The above shot is brought to you by the newest craze sweeping the nation (no, not Pinkberry, but I would murder for one of those, I tell you): the High-End Cupcake ™. The High-End Cupcake™ is the tanning booth of today--if you have some extra cash or a connection to a venture capitalist, I strongly recommend you get in on this business because it's a winner. Babs and I went to Pittsburgh on Thursday and stopped by Dozen, a purveyor of these sweet delights. Of course we each bought a small box-worth, you know, for the kids.

On our trip we also had the enjoyment of bumping into Leslie and Keana at a knit shop--but not until later that evening when I saw Leslie's picture of Keana on Flickr did I realize that we had actually seen them at the shop and spoken to them. Ha! What a small world. Both are even lovelier in person, the baby is adorable, and sort-of meeting them was a pleasure.I sorted through and prioritized the tranny mess that is my WIP situation (can you tell I'm a Christian of Project Runway fan?) and decided that finishing Juliet was the right thing to do. I appreciate all of you who suggested that I keep the sweater for myself and really teach the little miss a lesson. However I must politely refuse this suggestion, not out of a moral or ethical obligation, mind you, but rather because this garment is being knit in the x-small size and yours truly hasn't managed to swing that since maybe 1982 for about 10 minutes. Yeah--I'm a husky jeans gal...(Note cupcakes above. You know, for the kids).The clouds parted long enough for Tween Thing to be nice to me again to make working on Juliet seem possible. The pattern is genius and once you get the lace repeat down it's smooth sailing. I'm not sure how long last the entente with its recipient will last, but I'm going with it for the moment.The SpecsPattern: JulietYarn: Lamb's Pride Bulky in Ocean Waves, 3.75 skeinsSize: XSNow we have a dilemma on our hands because Peeper-Lou is adamant that she be next in line for the Juliet treatment--I even bought her the Cascade 109 pictured below for that purpose. But Tween Thing received Juliet as compensation for her sister's Drive -Thru, so making another Juliet would create an imbalance. Gah! Stop the world, I want to get off...I would like to give a mega shout-out to my boy Wondermike and his pal Hizknits who are creative duo behind the new knitting podcast Y Knit. If you haven't heard it yet, I strongly urge you to give it a listen. It is smart, intelligent and funny--and I am someone who HATES knitting podcasts. This is the first one I've ever listened to that didn't annoy the hell out of me with stupid banter, dopey inside jokes and irritating 'you had to be there' laughter. Yes I have strong feelings on the matter. Just check them out, they don't suck.

I love the Juliet and the Juliet-to-be -- what gorgeous colors you have chosen. Tween Thing and Peeper-Lou are lucky kids. And thanks for the link to Yknits. I have found every knitting podcast (except for Cast-On and the KnitPicks ones) to be annoying in exactly the way you described. Yknits is in my iTunes now.

I always have a hard time eating cupcakes, but this does not diminish my love for them. Juliet is lovely! I really love the buttons. I'll give Y Knit a try. I haven't listened to a knitting podcast in a long time.

OMG - the Juliet is Fierce!! I love, love Christian too:) Seriously though - I love it - I wish I was a tween thing! And those cupcakes - you're killing me! I will download that podcast - sounds like a winner!

I hope Tween Thing realizes how fab she looks thanks to you and shows her appreciation accordingly!

Thanks for the tip on the podcast. I listen to a bunch but they don't update as often as I like, and there's only so many times I can listen to the same episode. It'll be good to try out something new.

Nice job on Juliet! The high end cupcake is here too. There's a place near my office with huge expensive red velvet cupcakes. I buy one and me, Mr. Kim & Liam share it and act like it's a wee tiny cake. Which it is.

First of all, "thanks" for instilling a craving in me that will not be crushed till my face is smeared with icing and crumbs. Unfortunately, we do not have "High-end cupcake" purveyors here in my relatively large, but completely unhip-to-the-times city. Too bad I have no connections to venture capitalists... I could really start something here.

And I had to larf when I read your descriptions of podcasts. I feel exactly the same about them, times a million! I will check out Y Knit fo' sho'.

Juliet is lovely, but I don't envy you having to knit a second one. And how would miss Tween feel about her little sis having the same sweater?

Your Juliet is beautiful. I love the color. I knit one in a dark beige and I hat the color. I love the sweater and may just have to knit it again!! I love, love cupcakes. They are the perfect little size for desert. I just may have to go get some today, you know, for the kids!!

thanks for the podcast, there's a few that I listened too for awhile, but then stopped for the same reasons you have. One is still ok in my book, Sticks and String, this guys in Australia who knits and has cats...you get the idea.

Juliet is gorgeous!!! there must be some other knit Peeper-Lou would want with that Cascade....hopefully she'll forget about it

Next time you go to Pittsburgh and the, um, kids need some yummy cakey goodness, go to Prantl's in Shadyside (5525 Walnut). Friends of mine just bought it last year, including the recipe for Prantl's famous BURNT ALMOND TORTE. Lucky for me. I never would have found it on my own. The burnt almond torte is nothing like what I imagined from its name, yet it is oh so very, very, very tasty, moist and light (not "lite" but light as in "Gee, I could eat another piece. Whoops the new one seems to be twice the size of the original. I think I can manage."

I can't believe that was you, how funny is that! I'm shocked Leslie & you didn't recognize one another. We went to theat cupcake store about a year agohttp://keanalee.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/01/knitting_cupcak.htmlI loved them! We will have to meet up there someday!

You came to Pittsburgh AND had cupcakes without me? For shame, woman! (just kidding - I was probably at work and/or at the hospital anyway).

There's a second designer cupcake place in Shadyside, as well. By some miracle, I haven't tried either one, but I think on your next trip, you'll have to go to CoCo... you know... so you can do a scientific investigation on which one is better ;-) I could probably be tempted to join you. For the good company, of course, not the cupcakes.

Yes, if only I weren't so middle-aged and rotund I would knit cute sweaters like Juliet for myself, but hey, like you, I had my day in the sun (although x-small...hmm...not sure I ever did *that*.) You have to admit, there is something ridiculously satisfying about the kiddos fighting over who gets the next knitwear item from Mom, isn't there? omg, did I just say that out loud?

I agree that Christian is very talented, but I fear that if I ever went to a party with him, he'd be snarky and mean and I would want to beat him with his ever-present straightening iron. Just a hunch...

Your Juliet is awesome! And I say this as someone who ripped mine four times until I finally gave up and stuffed it behind the sofa. Now that I see it on Tween Thing, I realize that even attempting to knit it for myself was a fashion error of astonishing proportions, and the universe was kindly saving me from my own worse impulses. Tween Thing looks absolutely adorable--and I love the colors.

This blog made my day today! I love cupcakes! So glad to see some happy ones in the midst of my madness. I"m also desperate to stash down and have been trying to think what to do with my lambs pride. Eureka! I have a very similar color. Thanks for the inspiration!

I ditched the knitting podcast I used to listen to for those very reasons. I'll have to check out Y Knit. If they don't make me want to reach into my iPod and strangle them inside five minutes, they'll be worth a listen!